It was one of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. For those who don't know what Beat The Drum is, it is a program based off of the movie "Beat The Drum" (If you've never seen it, go and rent it! The movie addresses HIV/AIDS, abstinence, myths about the disease, and how God plays into all of it). The program consists of teaching material meant for teens.
From Jeffereys Bay, the AIM team traveled to Somerset East, which is about three hours north. We met many other missionaries there, like MXP (Missions Expeditions) and LXP (Leadership Experience), and many of the Somerset locals. Overall there were about 120 missionaries in Somerset for Beat The Drum, which is crazy because Somerset is such a small town! From there we took a couple days to review the material, break into different school groups, and get organized. I was with a group that went to Johnson School. Johnson is a black school that is located in the townships (the really poor community or the slums). There were 5 groups going to 5 different schools in the area and a couple groups who went around the community to farms and the prison there.
So we actually started teaching on Monday. We showed the movie in three different class rooms, so that most of the school could see it. I was assigned to an 8th grade class. My partner, Nelisa, was awesome! She was a local and had actually attended Johnson when she was in school. It was awesome having her as a partner because she knew her way around the school and spoke Xhosa (Ko-sa) to the kids just in case they couldn't understand my "American" accent. At first, it was difficult to talk to the kids because they were nervous and were afraid to talk. After a couple days they loosened up and began to talk. It was really sad because when they did talk, it was mostly discouraging. I felt like they weren't really listening or just didn't believe me. For example, we were talking about the myths of AIDS and one kid thought I was lying to him when I told him that it was a myth that if you sleep with a virgin you will be cured of AIDS. It was tough. However, I really felt the need to ask them to be abstinent. God really pressed it on my heart to ask the students to close their eyes and raise their hands if they wanted to chose to abstain from having sex until marriage. I was hesitant to even ask because I honestly didn't think that any of them would raise there hands. But God had touched those kids and 14 out of the 20 kids stood. I was awesome!!!!!! I had no idea that God could work that much in on classroom! Also, on that Friday, every single one of my class got tested for AIDS. It was such an amazing experience. I even got tested for AIDS so that I could be an example for them because a lot of them were really nervous.
Overall, the experience was so great. I had never done anything like that before, so it was a whole new experience for me. God just showed me so much love through the tough times in Somerset East. It was such an awesome feeling leaving Somerset, knowing that you helped such an AIDS stricken community. The percentage of people that have AIDS in the Somerset area is the highest in South Africa. I just hope that the people in Somerset can still turn to God when we have all left.
I write this blog so humbled. I have so much grief on my heart right now.
So , last night at discipleship, we had a study on James. We did an activity where we read James 4 and 5 and then wrote a reply as if your best friend was the one who had written it to you. After we has written our responses, we all got back together and discussed what things really hit us hard. For me it was verses 1- 6 of chapter 5 that really struck me.
" Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. You gold and silver have corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workman who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self- indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the days of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men who were not opposing you."
In America, I never thought I was rich. There were always people who were a lot wealthier than me. My friends, people at my school, people at my church. People always had trendier clothes, purses, shoes, cars, phones, etc. I was always looking at what they had in awe. I wondered why I couldn't have things like that. I felt my car wasn't cool or nice enough. I felt my clothes weren't trendy and expensive enough. But the Lord showed me how stupid I have been thinking. I need to realize that I'm not just in J-Bay to go shopping and buy coffee and food. I didn't raise $10,000 to be here, living the good life. Only 5% of people in the world own their own computer. I am part of that 5 percent. Only 2% of people own their own car. I am part of that 2 percent. Only 2% of the people in the world make more than 2 dollars a day. I am part of that 2 percent. It is disgusting how rich I am and how I depend on money. I have lived such a blessed life. Kids over here don't even have any concept of my life. I feel so stupid for not realizing how amazingly blessed I am. I am one of the richest people in the world and how do I use my money? For myself. I literally feel sick to my stomach that I live in such a selfish community and country, that society is so self-absorbed. I'm so frustrated with myself because I feel that when I get back home that I will just got back to selfishness. I pray that God can take away my guilt and forgive me. This trip has already been a huge eye opening experience for me. It seems that everyday I learn something that I have never realized. I am so blessed to be here and I pray that I can continue learning and growing closer to God. God, you are so RAD!!!
Yesterday was my first actual day of working at the 7th Heaven Orphanage. We meet Nellie, the owner, at 1:15 to help out for the day. When we got their she gave us multiple chores to do to help out around the house, like mopping the floors and cleaning her refrigerator. However, they only took about 20 minutes and we ended up just playing with the kids the entire time. It was such a blessing to actually start getting to know the kids on a personal basis. They are all so sweet! They range in age and they are all so different and have such different stories! The youngest, Axa, is adorable. She is two years old and has a very funny personality. Her hair is in three braids that stick out in each direction. She loves to take our hands and swing off of the bricks behind her house. Axa will only be at the orphanage until November because her parents are fighting for custody and want her back. So during that time she is staying with Ms. Nellie. The next child's name is Cornelius. He is a pretty quiet and shy kid but I think he just needs to step out of his box and really get to know me. He is 6 years old but is literally the exact same size as Axa, the 2 year old. He is a survivor of severe malnutrition and it is a shear miracle that he is still alive. So even thought he is way older that Axa, they look the same age. It was very shocking to find this out, because the day before I had no idea that this was the case. Moving on is Arnaldo. He is currently 7 and will be turning 8 this Friday! Hopefully we can make him a cake or some cupcakes... ! Anyways, he doesn't really talk that much. The whole time we were there he didn't play any games with us. Mostly, he just sat with us and watched us play some African games that some of the older girls taught us. Next is Tessa, or Tess. She is eleven and is only in 2nd grade. I believe that she was found on the streets by Nellie about 6 years ago. She has crazy hair and I love it! And lastly is Linda. Linda is 13. She had been there the longest and calls Ms. Nellie mom. I think that she helps out Nellie the most.
We played with them for a long time. It was awesome! They played games with us, drew with sidewalk chalk, drew pictures, worked on homework, taught me some Afrikaans words, and danced. Cornelius danced for us and I was crying I was laughing so hard! It was so cute! All of them danced for us and taught us a dance to Shackles by MaryMary. When I get home, I will show everyone. When it was time to leave, we said goodbye and gave hugs. I have everyone high fives and taught them how to "pound it". As we left, they yelled that they loved us. It was such a relief to me that they said that. I was ecstatic that they felt like they could say that to us. That is what they need the most. Love. Sometimes when missionaries come to J-Bay, they build relationships by buying people things. There are so many street kids. Whenever you walk on the streets, you will have them ask you for money, bread, drinks, etc. People buy them things and don't get to know them on a personal level. It hurts our reputation because they think that we will just buy them things. That's not why we are here. We are here to help people come to Christ by building lasting and loving relationships. We are not here to buy a loaf a bread to a street kid and then never see them again. It is important to build relationships with them first. Then if you really think that they are in need, you can help them out financially, or with food. In actuality, love is what they need more. They need a good friend that will love them to death.
Anyways, I think I had a pretty productive day yesterday!!!
So, today I started my ministry that I will be doing the entire time I'm here in J-Bay! I was so excited to actually see how I would be helping out in the commnunity! I am helping a woman named Nellie run her orphanage. Its called 7th Heaven Orphange and its here in J-Bay. Nellie is such an amazing woman! She runs the place by herself, and has 5 children to currently take care of. They range in ages... from 2 to 13. They are the sweetest kids I've ever met! We played games like duck, duck, goose and other games that they taught us. A couple of them like to do gymnastics so Im excited to help them and try to teach them some new moves! She also needs help re-decorating and fixing up her play room, which is totally up my alley. Im so excited to help her out and really see how God can use me to help out around her place!
Wow, I can't even believe that I'm here safe and sound. Traveling was crazy! We first had to fly to Washington D.C from Atlanta. That actually wasn't bad at all... it was only a two hour flight. Then we had a 15 hour flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. That was probably the longest 15 hours I've ever spent! I couldn't sleep, couldn't move around, and worst of all... the gross airplane food! ANYWAYS... we got to Johannesburg just to have a three hour layover and then get on another two hour flight to Port Elizabeth which is about a 45 minute drive to Jeffereys Bay. We finally got to J-Bay at around midnight on Tuesday night. We were all SOOOO tired that we got our beds situated and then totally crashed!
So we are staying at a camp called UCSA (United Christians of South Africa). It was so exciting to wake up in J-Bay. I was in a new country with new customs, and new languages! We spent the day exploring the beautiful beach, the shops, and the restaurants. Oh my, the beach is so awesome! The sand is white, and the ocean is a really pretty teal color. It is crazy that I can wake up, walk to the beach in two minutes and look at the Indian Ocean! Anyways, J-Bay is a huge surfing community. There are surf shops at every corner. Its so awesome. The languages are also very interesting. The main languages that are spoken in J-Bay are Afrikaans, Xhosa, and English. Xhosa is such a cool language! It has clicks in it and it is really intricate.
This trip is such a dream come true. Jeffereys Bay has such need, and it really needs help. I walked through the townships (the neighborhoods that the black and colored community live in, and yes... black and colored are the correct terms and I am not being racist!) yesterday and it was a huge shock. I had never actually witnesses poverty in that level before. The houses were literally shacks made of tin, piled on a little lot of land, and basically full of trash. Little children walked around barefoot on broken glass. Malnourished dogs roamed the street. The sad thing is that we didn't even get to the worst area of that community. We got to about the middle of the neighborhood. It was scary and unsettling. The fact that SO many people here in J-Bay live in poverty is so upsetting. However, God has got the whole world in his hands, right?! I know that I can help these people. I know that I came here to help and not just walk on the beautiful beaches, and to drink lattes at the Wax Café. I'm nervous but also so excited to see what the Lord will do with me in Jeffereys Bay.
"I am sending you to open thier eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may recieve forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me."
-Acts 26: 17-18
I first set my eyes on this verse when I opened a card from a member of my church. The card was from a couple that I've known for about 6 years and have attended church with during that time. These people are extrordinary people of Christ. Not only have they been christians their whole lives, they have been missionaries for a long time. They regularly go to China and teach english, help families in need, and start churches. I look up to this couple so much and was so greatful to get a card from them stating that they are proud of me for my Africa trip. And then I saw the verse that they had written at the bottem of the card.
For some reason, this verse hit me hard. I got a little teary-eyed! Up until that moment, I had known what I was doing... going to Africa to minister and help poeple and children in need. However, as I read this verse, I really realized what God would be doing through me. ME! The verse completely summarized my goal, and exactly what God wants to happen in Africa. He is sending us to help people come from darkness and go to the light, turn away from thier sinful lives and come toward God.
Until I read this verse, this trip was about me. It was what I was doing and where I was going, not about what GOD was doing through me. As I count the days down until I leave for Georgia, I just am thankful for the amazing opportunity that I have come across and I just pray that I can honor and show God through everything I do in Africa! I believe that god can do great things through me!
